Automatic dyeing machine



neg-17, 1940. F, c, R'ANKlN f 2,225,350

AUTOMATIC DYEING MACHINE Filed .June 24, 19:53 v svsneets-Sheet 1 Dec. 1940. F Q RANK|N I 2,225,350

AUTOMATIC DYEING 'MACHINE Filed June 24, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A 452 151 r152, A50 1 (Gif d@ vwl/STI Mv, l l 148 H7 me, n n D fue Dec. 17, 1940. v l r RANK|N 2,225,350

I AUTOMATIC nume-MACHINE Y Filed June 24, 193s s sheets-sheet s lNvEN-ro: FRED C. RANKIN De.17,194o. .f 'QRANKm 2,225,350

AUTOMATIC DYEI'NG MACHINE 4 Filed June 24, 193B 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 es .'94f'/ A Q2 2048 ll f -ll l Qay 3 as; Q Q7 n o l Il f I.75g-,5f

flo Y/// 5G 3mm/WM.' FRED C, RANK/N F. c. RANKIN AuTouA'rc 'DYEING MACHINE Filed June 24, 195,8

Fig/ o AUTOMATIC DYEING MACHINE' Fred C. Rankin, Stanley, N. C., assignor to Gaston County Dyeing Machine Company, Stanl N. C., a corporation of North Carolina Application June`24, 1938, Serial No. 215,697

(Cl. 68-184) l 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved appa'- ratus for dyeing and treating packages of yarn such as warp beams or smaller packages wound on perforated tubes. The conventional method of treating yarn comprises placing a warp beam or a plurality of packages in a suitable tank and then vcirculating the dyestuis through the yarn, first `in one direction, and then in the opposite direction at intervals off time varying from two.'

to four minutes.. After the solution has been circulated backand forth for several times, it `is drained from the circulating system and fresh Water is circulated through the yarn in the same manner. In many types of yarn it is very essential that the time interval that the dyestui is circulated in one direction through the yarn be equal to the interval that the same dyestuff is circulated in the oppositie direction. f course, in many cases it is desirable to circulate the dyestuff for a longer .period in one direction than in th'e other. In either case, however, it has required the constant attention of an operator to see that these "time intervals were properly balanced. It also is very important that the total time interval of the reversin'g'flow be accurately timed, otherwise, a difference in the shade of the finished batches of yarn will be very noticeable.

In the conventional method of treating the yarn, it has also been the practice to dy'e a batch of-yarn in one kier and then remove'it to another kier where it is washed. This batch of yarn usually weighs several hundred pounds, and its `removal entails much time, labor and machinery.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a dyeing machine for dyeing and treating yarn comprising a kier into whichthe yarn is It is a further object of this invention to provide a dyeing 'apparatus for dyeing warp beams, conesspools, cops, and the like, comprising a plurality of kiers, a. reversing valve, an expansion tank with suitable pipe connections connecting said members and a suitable pump for circulating the d yestu's firsty in one direction through said kiers and(l said yarns and then in th'e opposite direction, saidvalve and pipes being so positioned relativeito the pump and kiers that the direction of ow of the' dye liquor will only be reversed between the valve and the kiers, and will iiow in the same direction at all times through the 4pump to the valve. By providing a system of this type, it is notnecessary to have an elaborate pipe system. TheI pump is allowed to run continuously in one direction since the reversal of iiow in the kiers is performed by the valve for either washing or dyeing the yarn.`

Some of the objects of the invention having. been stated, other objects will appear as the de-l scription proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isa schematic wiew of a portion of the invention; Figure 1A is a schematic view of the other portion ofthe invention; g'

Figure 2 is a schematic view valves shown in Figure 1, said valves being turned to a different position;

Figure 3 is an elevation of the circulating sys-` tem showing portions thereof in sections and .omitting the electrical control apparatus;

e placed vwith means associated with the -kier-for automatically reversing the direction of flow of the dyestuifs through the yarn at predetermined intervals and also with means for controlling the total time interval, during which the ow takes place.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the class described which is capable of Aperforming a washing operation on the yarn after it has been dyed and while it is still in the dyeing kier. f course, after the dyeing solution has been circulated back and forth for several times,- the solution is drained'. from the circulating system and freshwater is circulated throughthe yarn direct to the sewer, the

Figure 4 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 4 4 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an elevation taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 3, showing portions in section;

Figure 6 is` a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in Figure l3; Y

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional plan view taken along the line 1 1 in Figure;

of one of the Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional plan view A through the reversing valve and taken along the Y line 8-8 in Figure 3 Figure 9 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 9 9 in Figure 6; y.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view through the reversing valve and taken along the line III- direction of ow of the water. through the yarnl being' reversed at intervals. The time interval during which the fresh water flows in each direction is positively and-automatically controlled. In other words, in the reversible wash, the same water is not circulated and recirculated as in the ease of the dyeing operation, but only its direction of travel through the yarn is reversed.)u `i l20, respectively.

I0 in Figure 4.

-Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral I0 denotes the basement floor of 'a building having a footing Il extending upwardlytherefrom, upon which is mounted posts I2. These posts support kiers, or dye vats, I4 and I5 which extend upwardly through a first floor I6 of the building. The tops of the kiers Il and I5 have lids I1 and I8 pivoted thereto as at i9 and l' suitable counterweights 2i and -22 for counter- These lids are equipped lwith balancing the lids when the same are in open position.

Each of these tanks has a seat 26 in the lower portion thereof upon which a yarn supporting means 21 is adapted to be placed, and upon this yarn supporting means is mounted a plurality of cones of yarn 2B for dyeing purposes, or a beam of yarn can be placed on the seat. Supporting -means 21 and the yarn cones 29 are removed as a means. The structure of a suitable yarn holding means is disclosed in the Hornbuckle and Craig patent, Number 1,933,980. Or, if desired, instead of having a pluralityl of packages of yarn, as shown in the drawings, warp beams may be processed by having one end of a yarn beam resting on the seat, and having the upper end closed by suitable means, the barrel of the yarn beam being perforated as shown in 'Hornbuckle and Craig patent, Number 1,939,816. The manner in which .a yarn beam is 'used in dyeing is shown in Hornbuckle and Craig' patent, Number- The lower interior portion' of yarn seat 26 communicates with pipe 30 which pipe leads from the bottom of one kier to the bottom of the other (Figures 3 and 5). Disposed directly above pipe 30 is another pipe 3|, the ends of which communicate with the interior of kiers I4 and I5. The pipes 30 and 3i have suitableXhand valves in and 33, respectively. which are manipulated when it is desired to use only onev kier.

Also leading from the pipes and 3| are pipes 34 and 35, respectively, whose other4 ends are connected to nipples 36 and 31, respectively, of reversing valve 38. The valve 3B has another nipple, to which the outlet port of pump 40 is connected. This pump is driven by a suitable electric motor 4`I through shaft 42.

' :The intake side of pump 40 has pipe 45 connected thereto and the other end of this pipe is connected to outlet port 45a of drain valve 46.

The drain valve 46 has Van intake port 41 (Figure 6) to which pipe 48 is connected, and pipe 48 communicates with outlet port 48a in the lower portion of reversing valve 3l.

'Ihe drain valve housing. also has a drain port 49 in its lower end to which a drain pipe 50 is connected (Figure 6). Thisport is nor mally closed during a reversing dye operation by means of closure member 5i. This closure member is mounted on the lower end of a suitablerod 52 which rod projectsupwardly and is threadably secured at its upper portion, in` cover 48a. A hand wheel 53 is secured to the upper end of the rod 52 for use when it is desired -to open the port 4I to allow the dye liquor to flow dlrectly to' the sewer through pipe `5ll. By observing Figures 6 and '1, it is seen that the shaft 52 has slidably mounted around its upper end, a hollow pipe member 55, the lower end of the pipe member having a cut away cylindrical shell having portions sa and se which tzghuy nt' against the interior sidewalls of valve `housing- 45. In the drawings theposition of the parts show the port 4l closed and the inlet port 41 and outlet port 45a open, thereby allowing the dye liquors to flow from the lower portion of the reversing valve 4l throughvalve housing 45; and to the pump 40.

-When it is desired to cause the liquor to flow from the valve housing 4I to the sewer through pipe 5l, the hand wheel 53 is turned. thus causing the closure member 5I to be raised. When the member` Il has been raised a considerable amount, a pin 52a. which projects radially from the lower portion ofthe rod 52, will engage pin 55a projecting down from' the lower portion of pipe member 55 and upon this engagement, the cylindrical portion 5l will be rotated to close the port 45a, thereby preventing the liquor from again returning to the pump. Suitable stop screws 60 and 6| (Figure 7) are provided to limit the rotation of the cylindrical portions 5l and 59. Of course, when it is desired to restore the parts` to original position, the valve cap 5| is lowered to the position shown in Figure 6 and at the same time the cylindrical portion 5l is restored to the position shown in Figure? by rotating enlarged portion 55h which is integral with the pipe 55.'` This will uncover port 45a.

It should be noted that during a dyeing operation the dye liquor always flows from the reversing valve 38 downwardly through pipe, valve housing 45, pipe 45, pump 40, and back again to the reversing valve 38. 'I'he direction of iiow of the dye liquor through the pipes 34 and 35, however, is reversed at predetermined intervals. This reversal is eilected by a dejector valve 55 (Figures 6, 8 and 10) the lower portion of which communicates with outlet port'48a in the lower end of the valve ll. The intake port of the deject'or 65 is adapted to alternately communicate with the opening in the nipple l5 and then with the opening in nipple `8l. A

In Figure 8, the dejector 65 is shown in .communication with the nipple l1 at which time the dye liquor, which is forced into the valve housing 38 by the pump 40 throughthe nipple Il will flow out of this same valve housing, through the nipple 35 and through pipe 34pipe 3l, seat 26 and to the interior of packages 2l.' From the interior of the packages of yarn, the liquor will flow to the outside and into the kiers, then 4 through pipe il, pipe 35. nipple 31 and into the intake port of dejector il. 'I'he liquor will then be directed `downwardly through pipe 4I, valve' to reversing' valve Il, from whence it will follow' the same route to the pump 4I as in the previous case.'

Deiector l5 has a vertically disposed shaft 51 connected thereto which extends upwardly through the cover- 5I of the valve housing ll. A

suitable' pinion is nxediy secured on the upper end of the shaft, which is adapted to mesh with a rack 10 (Figures 6 and 10).' This rack is secured to one end of a piston rod 1I which has a piston Il on the other end thereof (Figure 9),

vsaid piston being disposed on the interior of cylinder 19 into two compartments, namely, 19a and 19h. 'I'he compartment 19a has a pipe 80 communicating therewith which also communicates with compartment 8| of valve cylinder 82, whereas the compartment 19h has a similar pipe 88 communicating therewith and also with compartment 84-of valve cylinder 82. Cylinder 82 has an air intake compartment 85 into which 91,'which diaphragm has its other end nxedly' secured in bracket 98, said bracket forming a portion of the supporting means for the cylinders 19 and 82.

This diaphragm 91 isoperated by a suitable controlling mechanism at predetermined intervals. For example,7when itis desired to .reverse the direction of ow of the dye liquor through the valve housing 38 as well aa the yarn packages or package, within the kiers, it is necessary to reverse the position of the dejector 65 Withinv this valve housing (Figures 6, -8 and 10). In order to reverse the position of the valve 65 the shaft 61 and the pinion 69 must be turned. This turning is effected by means of the rack 10,

which is operated -by the pistonV 18. By introl hand, if it is desired to move the valve into the opposite direction, air is introduced into com partment 19h.

In the position of the -valves shown in Figure 9, the air will bel allowed to enter chamber 8| and from chamber 8| it will ow through pipe into compartment 19. -At this time, the dia.- phragm 91 is in an expanded position. On the other hand when it is desired to reverse the ow, it is necessary to rotate the dejector 65 in a counterclockwise manne;` at which time the air pressure is released from the expansible diaphragm 81 thereby causing the rod 96 to move to the left in Figure 9. Then the v alves 93 and 95 will seat and the valves 94 and valves 92 will open. This will allow the air to iiow from compartment 85 into the compartment 84, through pipe .83 and into compartment 19h. to cause the piston 18 to move tofthe left in Figure 9 and rotate the shaft 61 and dejector 65 in a counterclockwise manner in Figures 4 and. 8 so that the intake port or opening of "the dejector 86'wi1l communicate with nipple 31. The

valves 82 andA 96 alternately exhaust the air fromy chamber 19a and 19h when the travel of piston 18 is reversed.

When the dyeing machine is in operation the valve 88 is reversed at intervals varying from two to four minutes, therefore, mechanism must be provided whereby controlling air will be introduced into orreleased from the expansible diaphragm 91 to bring about. the reversing. This mechanism is shown in a-schematic form and will be described later.

Likewise means are also provided for automatically stoppingthe machine when the reversing mechanism has been in operation for a predetermined length of time.v This will alsobe idescribed in conjunction with the operating means for the reversing mechanism. The total time necessary for the dye liquor to ow once 5' through the yarn in both directions-is known as a cycle and the sum of all'the cycles is known as the total time period.

Leading from the tcp of each of the kiers I4 and I5 are pipes |00, which, in turn, are connected to pipe '|0I, said pipe |0| communicating with the upper portion of expansion tank |02. A suitable hand valve .|03 is provided in The lower portion of expansion tank |02 hasl a pipe |04 leading therefrom, which hasV its lowerend connected to the pipel 45. The pipes |00, |0| and expansion tank |02 are conventional.

The function of these pipes is to vent the kiers While the machine is being filled with water or dye liquor. Another f unction is to let the entrapped air escape from the contents of the kier and also to permit increase of expansion of water or dye liquor within one orA more of the kiers.

It will be noted that acheck valve |05 is providedin the pipey |04 to prevent the liquid from being forced upwardly through pipe |04 into the expansion tank |02 while', the pump 40 is in operation. K

After the dye liquor has been reversed through 80 the yarn 29 the desired number of times, the drain port 49 of valve 46 is opened and the port 45a isiclosed.' The pump is stopped automatically as will be explained later. The dye liquorv drains by gravity from the system through pipe 50 to the sewer. Then water will be admitted to empty expansion tank |02 by any suitable means such as spigot |02a having 'a suitable cut-off valve l|021). The pump will then be'started and will draw fresh water from the expansion tank |02 through-the pump A40, and be forced through reversing valve 38 vand through the yarn 28 in the kiers, first in onedirection and thenv in the other, -from whence it will return to the reversing valve and be directed 4,5 downwardly through the pipe 48, valve 46 to the sewer through the pipe 50.

While this operation is being effected, of course, the reversing mechanism will be in operation which will cause the packaged yarn to 60 be washed from the interior to the outside and conversely. l

In order to properly dye the yarn, it is necesa sary that the dye liquor be heated to apredetermined temperature and held substantially at 55 this temperature. Automatic means for regulating the temperature is provided. A vapor pressure bulb |06 is disposed within the pipe 3|, or at any convenient position within the circulating system (Figure 1). This bulb communicates with helical tubes |01, through a connecting tube |08.

As the temperature rises, the 'corresponding gas or vapor pressure in the bulb |06 is transmitted through the tubing |08 to the helical tube |01, .55 thus causing this helical tube to unwind. The tube |01 is also connected to a-vertically,disposed shaft |09 upon which a ,lever III is iixedly mounted. Secured between the free end of Vthis lever and a flapper leaf 2 is a link ||4. This 70 leaf is adapted to close nozzle I|5 when the temperature reaches a predetermined high point in the pipe 3|.

Air is supplied to this nozzle by means of a tube ||6 which has branches |I6a and ||8b, the fork 75 will close the valve |35.

I|0a `being adapted toV communicatel with a reducing valve I|1, whereas the fork ||0b communicates with diaphragm I |0. Leading from the lower portion o! pressure reducing valve ||1 is a tube I I0. This tube has its other end communieating with a suitable bore |20, said bore communicating with air supply pipe |2I, which pipe has air strainer |2|a therein. The upper end of bore |20 has communicating; therewith' an adjustable valve seat |25, said valve seat being adapted to be contacted by valve |21. This valve is disposed on a rsuitable rod |20, which in turn is secured to the diaphragm IIO. The valve |21 is located in the upper portion of bore |30, and the lower end of this bore communicates with pipe |33. This pipe is connected to diawhich in turn conducts the air to bore |20, -adjustable valve seat |25, bore |30, pipe |33, and

to a diaphragm motor |34 which will close a valve |35 and cut oi the steam which is supplied through a pipe |30 and enters the pipe 35 ofthe circulating system through a pipe |30 (Figure 1) Oi course, this action of the valve |35 is effected only when the temperature has reached a pre` determined high point. Thethermostatic control bulb I06 being in the circulating system will respond to the increased temperature and transmit the vapor pressure to the helical tube |09 which will unwind and allow air to escape through the nozzle II5. s'

When this is done, the pressure will be released upon the diaphragm |I0 allowing it to contract. and cause the valve |21 to seat as at |21a. With the valve seated as at I21a, the air supplied through pipe I2I will be caused to ilow upwardly through port |20; reducing valve |25, bore |30, pipe |33 and to the diaphragm motor 34 which When the temperature reaches a predetermined low point, then the vapor pressure will cause the reverse action to take place, at which time the helical tube |01 will wind up and cause the orifice |I5A to be closed. Then the valve |21 will seat as at I21b, because the closingof the orifice I |5 will set up a pressure in the lines I|6 and I I6b to cause the diaphragm ||0 to be expanded. At this time the air from the motor |34 will escape through valve seat |21a and consequently the steam valve |35 will be automatically opened to admit steam to thecir culating system.

`-.its heretofore stated, means are provided for 'automatically stopping the dyeing machine after therein, said switch being operated by magnetv Leading to magnet |49 is wire |50, having `a signal light |5| therein. The other end of this wire leads to one side of a switch |52 and from the other side of the lswitch'l52 another wire |53 leads to throw switch |54. Allow voltage current is supplied to this switch, from any suitable` source of low voltage electrical energy of\,:l-10, volts or less, for example, through wires`|55 and |50 for supplying the operating circuit whereas the current for operating the motor 4| may be 220 volts or greater. l n l The switch |54 has a wire |51-leading therelfrom, to switch |50'as at point 3, and from the other side of switch |50 as at point a wire |56 leads to point |60.` Point is connected to switch |52 by means of wire |0I. From the other side of switch |52, wire |62 leads back to magnet |40 to complete a circuit.

When it is desired to operate the pump only in conjunctiton with the dye machine as in the case where the operator is heating up the solution preparatory to adding the dye stuis thereto, the switch |50 is positioned so that thecurrent will ow from point 3 to contact point I. Switches |52 and |54 are manually closed. This will allow the current to flow `through wire |51, switch |58,

wire |53, point |50, wire |6|,switch |52,wire |62, 25

magnet |49, wirejl50, light |5I, switch |52, wire |53 and back to the other side of the switch |54, to close switch |48 at which time the light 5| will be illuminated to indicate that the pump is running.` Of course, when the magnet |40 is energized the switch |46 will be closed, thereby allowing the currentdzo Vflow through wires |45, |46 and |41 to the pump motor 4|, With the switch |58 connecting points 3 and I, only the pump motor will operate.

When the valve |35 is closed and it is desired to admit steam into the circulating system, a

hand valve |3| is opened to allow steam to flow around valve |35 through by-pass pipe |32.

Let us assume that it is desired to reverse the liquid in the circulating system through the yarn at predetermined intervals, fand also operate the pump, but that it is not desired to limit the total 4 ing from this wire as at |35, is another wire |66,

whose other end leads to terminal |61. This 4terminal isy adapted to be normally contacted by switch bar |63, when the total timing mechanism is not in operationVsaid bar |53 also simultaner ously contacting another terminal |68.

Leading from the terminal |00 is wire |10, having an indicating light l |1I installed therein to indicate that the switch bar |00 is closed and that the total timing mechanism is out of operation. 'I'he other end of the wire |10 leads to one side ot magnet |12, and from this magnet is a wire |13 which leads back and contacts the wire |50.`

With the switch |05 in closed position, it is evident that the magnet |12 will be energized through the series of wires just described, resulting in the switch |15 being forced to a closed position. One sideof switch |15 has wire |11 which contacts another wire |10, as at 251, vsaid wire |10 Joining wires |50 and |0| as at |60. The other side of switch |15 has wire |00 leading therefrom, which contactsl `wire I0| as at |02. This wire leadsto one side of cycle control motor |03. -A y From the other side of cycle control motor |33,

wire |04 leads to point |05 where this wire joins 75 wires and |66. A suitable rheostat |86 is connected in parallel with the motor |83 Vto control the speedof' the motor and thereby control the Atime necessary to complete a cycle in the circula-v tion system.y

In other words, when the motor |83 is running, the dye liquor is being reversed in the yarn at predetermined intervals, by means of the reversing valve 38 and its controls. Also at-this time, the pump is'placed in operation to circulate the liquor. The circuit for performing these two functions, namely. the running of cycle control motor |83 and the supplying of current to pump motor |4| vis completed by connecting' points 3 and 6. lThe current will their flow through wire |56, one side of switch |54, wire |51, point 3, switch |I8, contact point 9, wire |65-, wire |84, motor |83, wire |8|, switch |15, wire |11, wire |18, wire' |8|, one side of switch |52, wire |62, magnet |49, wire |50, signal light ll, the other side of` switch |52, `wire |53, the

other-side of switch |54 and back to the wire Since the magnet |49 will ,be energized,'of course, the switch |48 will be closed and the current will be supplied to the pump motor 4|. Likewise the magnet |12 will be'simultaneously energized by a parallel circuit, Just described suiiicient to prevent any slippage from occurring,y

during normal operation; however, whenit becomes necessary to reposition the segments relative to the shaft, the segments can be turned on the shaft by exerting slightly more than the operating rotative force. This repositioning is seldom-necessary except at the beginning of a dyeing operation. The disk |9| has a slot |9|a therein which is penetrated by set screw |99 and this set screw is threadably secured in the disk |92. When'it is desired to' vary the length of the highcircumference of these disks, it lsonly necessary to loosen the set` screw |93land move the disks |9| and |92 to the proper relative positions. The disks |9| and |99 are adapted to be contacted by the lower side of a suitable lever ist;

Lever |99 is normally forced against the disks 96 and |92 by means of a tension -spring |95.l

The upperportion of the lever its has a vertically disposed rod |93 resting thereon, which lrod extends upwardly and is slidably mounted pipe 2% in which any suitable pressure iiuid flowsl for the operationof the control devices. Pressure iuiol is supplied to the valvevhousing 2b@ from the intake pipe |69 from whence it passes through valve IM, pipe' 293, a reducing valve 291, and a pipe 295. With the ball |9811. in a raised position as shown in Figure 1A. the uid will be allowed to move downwardly through bore .|99ainto the upper portion of bore |99 and out of the housing 200 through the pipe 204. The other end of this pipe is connected to the expansible diaphragm 91 which has beenprevious- 5 ly described, and upon the application of air pressure within these lines, the diaphragm 91 will expand, thereby opening the valves' within' the v cylinder 82 and causing the reversing valve to be' oscillated.

Of course, this pressure is only applied while the lower portion of the lever |94 rests upon the high sides of disks |9| and |92. As motor |89 continues to operate, the lowside of the disks I9| and |92will pass beneath the lever |94vand this lever, under the tension of spring |95, will move downwardly allowing the ball |98a to close the valve seat and prevent am? of the air from` entering the bore |99. At this time the enlarged portion of rod |98 will be low enough to allow the port 200a to be opened while ball |98a is seated, at which time the air can'exhaust from the line 204, and bore |99. "I'his will release the pressure within the lines and allow diaphragm 91 to contact thus closing valves 93 and 95 in As heretofore stated, the liquor in the circulat- ,n ing system is flowing in one direction through the yarn when the lever |94 is on the high side of the plates |9| and v|92 and the liquor isow- 30 ing in the opposite direction through the yarn when the low side is contacted.

It is very desirable' to have means whereby an operator can tell at an instants notice in which direction the liquor is owing. By the inspection 5 of the drawings,` it will be seen that when the lever |94 is on the high side that the dye liquor will be flowing from the outside toA the inside of the yarn,'because the diaphragm 91 will bein expanded position as shown in Figure 9, at which time the piston n iwiii be moved to the right 4 in this same ygure, thereby rotating the de Jector shaft 81 in a clockwisemanner. in Figures d and 8. This, of course, will cause the intake of the dejector to communicate with the nipple, which in turn, will cause the liquor to how into the kiers icand i5 through pipes 95 and 3|. When the lever is on the low side of the disk the opposite flow will occur.

By referring to Figure 1A, it is seenthat when the leverV |99 is in an elevated position that a suitable switch /bar 2|@ will be caused to contact terminal 2| i. ,This bar has current supplied thereto by \means of a wire 2BR, which wire branches from wire |99. Leading from the. terminal Zlipis a wire 2id, having a signal light als therein, said wire contacting wire |92'.4 When the light 2|5 is burning it will indicate that the dye liquor is flowing from the outside to the inside of the yarn. f

Wherr the lever l|96 contacts the low side of the disks, the dye liquor will ow from the inside to the outside of `ythe yarn, then the switch barl 2lb will be -resting on terminal 2id. Terminal 2|5 has a Wire 2|@ leadingsthererom, said wire 65 having a signal light Eil installed therein,

' When the switch 2|@ contacts the terminal I5 the light 2li will be illuminated to indicate the direction of flow of the dye liquor. these lights 2|5 and 2li can be placed behind 70 suitable translucent signs having indicia thereon such as Outside to inside and Inside to outside, so there will be no'4 doubt inthe mind of the operator as to the direction of ilow.

When the pump and cycle controller are in'op- 75 If desired,

eration together with the thermostatic control, a valve 4225 is operated manually or automatic means may be provided.

For example, the valve 225 which is disposed in pipe |33 must be positioned in the manner shown in Figure 2. In this position the crossport 225 will allow the air to flow from pipe |33 to the diaphragm motor |34 to close valve |35 when a predetermined high temperature has been reached, and conversely when a predetermined low temperature has been reached, the valve |35 will be opened. In-the meantime the pipe 229 will be shut oif.

When itis desired to operate the machine in a fully automatic manner, that is with the pump, cycle controller and total time controller in D- eration, the valve 225 is rotated through an angle of approximately i5 degrees to the `position shown in the central portion of Figure 1. At this time, A

the port 221 will have its ends directly in aline-- ment with the pipe |33 and at the same time, a port 228 which, is disposed substantially at right angles to port 221, will communicate with pipe lines 229. The other end of the pipe 229 communicates with bore 230 which is disposed on theinterior of valve housing 23| (see Figure 1A).

When the machine'has been in operation for a predetermined length of time, and lt is desired to cutY oif .the steam which flows from `pipe |38 through valve |35 and into the circulating system through pipe |39, it is necessary to introduce air from pipe 229 into pipe |33, diaphragm motor |34, to cause the va1ve|35 to be cut olf. The introduction of the air is controlled by the mechanism associated with valve housing 23|.- The bore 230 within this housing communicates with an enlargedy bore 232 to which is secured one end of an air supply pipe 233. This pipe taps air pipe 205 at a point between casing 200 and reducing valve 201.

At the point of merger ofthe two bores 230 and 232, a sutablevalve seat is provided, which is adapted to ,be closed at times, by a ball 236, which ball is secured upon the upper end of a vertically disposed rod 231. rod rests upon the upperportion of lever 238, which lever in turn rests upon disks 239 and 240. The lower side of the lever 238 is held in contact with the periphery of these disks by means of tension spring 24|. It will be noted that the disks 239 and 240 are similar in many respects to the disks 9| and |92 just described. The disk 239 has an arcuate slot 242 therein which is penetrated by a set screw 243, the end of set screw 243 being threadably embedded in diskl 240.

When it is desired to vary the length of the low periphery of the disks 239 and 240, it is only necessary to loosen the set screw 243 and move the disks to theproper position. `The disks are frictionally mounted upon a shaft 245D which shaft leads into housing 245a, which has suitable reducing gears therein. By frictionally mounting the disks 239 and 240 upon shaft 245b,`

these disks can be reset manually at the beginning of a dyeing operation so as to occupy the lproper position relative to the projection 239a thereabove. The friction normally present' between the shaft 245b and disks 239 and 240. how- The lower end of this turns, the disk, comprising parts 239 and 240, will be rotated. It should be further noted that the shaft 245D and its associated disks are only supposed to rotate a partial revolution for each batch of material that is dyed; consequently, the speed of the shaft 245b must necessarily be many times slower than the vspeed of the shaft |90 and its associated disks, because thedisks on shaft |90 are supposed to make one revolution per cycle, that is a cycle being the total time necessary for the liquor to ow once in each direction through the yarn.

Motor 249 has a wire 25| leading therefrom which is connected to terminal 252.. The switch bar |59 is adapted to contact the terminal 252 and also a terminal 253 to which a wire 254 is secured, said wired 254 having a light 255 installed therein tol indicate when the current is flowing through the motor 249. Leading from the other side of the motor 249 is a Wire 256 which contacts the wire l|18 at point 251. In order to vary the speed of the motor 249, a suitable rheostat 258 is provided and connected in parallel with the motor 24.9. l

-When it is desired to operate this machine in a fullyautomatic manner, the switches |52 and |54 are manually closed and then the terminals 3 and 9 are connected by switch |58. Also the disks 240 and 239 initially set in a position where point 233a on the low side of these disks will be contacted by point 238a'on the lever 238, which will allow the bar |59 to contact. the terminals 252 and 253. Whenthis is done, the signal light 255 Will be lighted to. indicate that the current is beingv suppliedto the motor 249. After this motor has run `its total time period, alpartialA revolution has been made by the shaft 245, the high side of the disk 239 and 240 will contact the lower side of leverH 238 thereby raising the bar |59 I into contact with the terminals |61 and |69. This will cause the light; |1| to show up and indicate that the total time period is over. At the same time the rod 231 will be moved upwardly within housing 23| and allow air to beintroduced from pipe 233 into housing 23|, and from whence it will flow into pipe 229,\valve 225 as shown in Figure 1, and into diaphragm motor |34 to close the valve |35 and thereby cut oif the steam to the vcirculating system.

As heretofore stated the valve |35 is operated to closed position by applicaion o'f pressure to motor |34,-and the control valve 233 thereby'acts as a master control valve to abridge the operation of the thermostatically responsive valve |21.

It should be noted also that when'the terminals 252 and 253 are disconnected at the end of. a period, 4the magnet |49 will be de-en'ergized, thereby causing the switch |48 to break the circuit to the pump motor 4|. trol motor |83 is in the same circuit as the vtotal time controller motor 249, it is evident that upon the breaking of the contacts 252 and 253 that both motors will be stopped and the parts must be reset before another dyeing operation can be bef gun. When the point 239a engages the portion 2381ir thebar |39 is raised and the circuit between contacts 252 Vand 253 is broken as previously described. The circuit between contacts |91 and |50' is simultaneously closed, thereby energizing magnet |12 and causing the circuit between wires |11 and |30 to be broken, which inv turn, causes the'circuit to motor |83 to be broken, said last-named circuit being designated by reference characters |65, |84, |33, |8|, |80, |15, |11, |18, ISI, |50, |53, |54, |51 and |50.

Since the cycle con- When the dyeing 'machine is placed in fully automatic position, it is necessary to add a quan-l tity of dyestuifs to the heating solution in the circulating sytsem. After this quantity has been circulated through the system for several minutes, it is then necessary to add additional quantities at timed intervals to compensate for the dye absorbed by the yarn, so that the solution will have substantially the same dyeing proper- 10 ties throughout the dyeing operation. Furthermore it is very desirable to add a suitable catalytic agent, such as salt, at predetermined in. tervals in order to assist the dyestufls in properly dyeing the materials. The intervals at which these quantities are added are automatically controlled by the total time controller just described. The shaft 265 has a suitable cam 268 thereon, said cam having a plurality o f notches 26|, 262, 263 and 264 in the periphery thereof. The notch 26| is not in` the samecorresponding position relative to shaft 245, as the point 238e on the disk 239, but in-Y stead it is farther advanced. It should be kept in mind that when the machine is started in a fully automatic position that the point 238e is disposed directly beneath the contact surface 238e of lever 238. The notch 26| will not be engaged by plunger 265 of valve 266 until the shaft 245 has made a partial revolution. The valve 30 266 is identical in construction to valve 288 previously described and which is shown in the lower left-hand portion of Figure 1A. Leading to the top of valve 266 is an inlet fluid pressure supplypipe 261, the upper end of which taps pipe 266. This pipe in turn taps uid supply pipe 233. Also leading from valve 266 is an outlet pipe 210, -the other end of which leads to conventional diaphragm motor 21| (Figure 1). This diaphragm motor is adapted to operate valve 212 in pipe 213. The pipe 213 has its upper end communi eating with a brine tank 214 which' supplies brine to expansion tank 102 at the desired intervals. In other words, when the rod 265 falls in either of the notches 26|, 262, 263 or 264, the valve 266 is closed, and the air in pipe 216 is allowed to exhaust from this valve to allow the .diaphragm motor 21| to open the valve 212 and thereby admit a quantity of brine into the expansion tank |82. When it is desired to vary the'number of quantities it is only necessary to replace disk 260 with another disk having a set ofA differently spaced notches.

In a similar manner quantities of dyestu's are admitted to the expansion tank at predetermined intervals. This mechanism is likewise controlled from the shaft 245b. A disk 288 having notches 28|, 282 and 283 in the periphery thereof, is secured on the end of shaft 245b. This disk has a rod 284 engaging its periphery, said rod being so slidably mounted in valve 285 which is identical to valves 280 and 266, just described.

The air is supplied to this valve through pipe 268. An exhaust pipe 288 leads from this valve to diaphragm motor 281 (Figure l). This motor controls valve 288 in pipe 289, said pipe having its lower end communicating with the expansion tank |82 and itsupper end communicating with dye mixing tank 298. When the point 238i: is

disposed on point 238a of the plate 239, the rod.

at which time the air which normally flows from pipe 268 to diaphragm motor 281 throughthe pipe 286 will be cut o, thereby allowing the air to exhaust from valve 285 and also allow the diaphragm 281 to open valve 288 and admit dye- 5 stuffs from tank 29|) to expansion tank |02. In other words, each time the plunger 284 is allowed to fall into a notch, the valve 288 is opened for the admission of dyestuis. -By providing this automatic means it is seen that the human ele- 10 ment of treating yarn is practically eliminated, since the reversing operation, the addition of brine, and dyestus, and the total time operating period is automatically controlled by the device which has just been described. 15

In the drawings and specication there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are used they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation. the scope of 20 the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dyeing machine comprising a reversing valve having an intake port and a discharge port, 25 a conduit having each end thereof communicating with said valve independently of said ports,

a yarn kier interposed in `said conduit, a pump having its outlet port communicating with the intake port of said valve, and having .an intake 30 port connected to the discharge port of said lvalve, a liquid supply connected to the intake port of said pump, means for reversing said valve to thereby cause the flow to be reversed in the conduit immediately preceding its discharge 35 through said discharge port, the connection between the discharge port of the valve and the intake port of said pump having a two-way valve thereinat a point in advance of the liquid supply connection which when in one position dis- 40.

vsaid conduit, a dejector fitting turnably mounted in said casing and having one end thereof coinciding with the discharge port of the casing, the other e'nd of said iitting being adapted to selectively coincide with either end of said con- 83 duits, 'means'for turning said dejector tting to cause'the flow to be reversed immediately preceding its discharge through said discharge port of the casing, a housing interposed in said connection between the casing discharge port and 50 the pump intake port, aliquid supply disposed between said housing and the pump intake port, said housing having a normally closed discharge opening, means mounted in the housing for closing communication between the discharge .5 port of the iirst casing andthe pump and for simultaneously opening the discharge Aopening of the housing to thereby discharge the liquid after it passes through the kier. n

FRED C. RANKIN. 7n 

